I/O Plate question

[Rabican]

So i just bought a new motherboard and i/o / backplate has little metal tabs covering certain holes, mainly the ps/2 mouse, ethernet and firewire..whats the purpose of these? should i just snap them off (could require quite a bit of wigglign as they're as thick as the rest of the backplate) why are they there?! I know its a stupid question but this is confounding me

 

[Lord Evermore]

They're just covering the holes for people who don't necessarily need to use those ports. Just like cheap cases have snap-off covers on the expansion slots. Just snap them off on the ports that you actually need exposed.

It's kind of silly to make them that way when the plate comes with a mainboard which actually has things that fit each of those ports, but I suppose it makes it cheaper somehow than cutting them out entirely.

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, Back plate is part of RF shielding as dictated by the FCC. Tabs are to make sure all metal parts of the shield is connected to ground on the MB.

Jim

 

[Lord Evermore]

I don't think he was talking about the contact tabs that are just like little spring tabs, he was talking about the ones that actually cover the holes.

Yes there are those little springy tabs sticking out that push against the PS/2 bracket and between the other slots, and that usually press downward on top of the box where the Ethernet port is. Don't rip those off.

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, Lordevermore is correct. Cover on holes is also part of the FCC regulations. Only open them if your MB needs them open.

Jim